Every two years Microsoft updates its all-time best-selling simulation Flight Simulator and the latest update is regarded as one of the most significant to date. Now in its eight incarnation, the simulation is more realistic and more packed with visual goodies than ever, thanks to advances in 3D graphics cards and faster processors.
Like its predecessor, there are two versions available for the connoisseur of civil-based flight simulation: Professional and Standard. The Professional edition, reviewed here, has two extra aircraft and an instructor facility. It comes on three CDs and occupies just over 2Gbyte of hard disk space.
After installation, the first noticeable change is the user interface. A new menu layout allows for easier set-up and navigation of the many menus that can be manipulated for a more complex set-up. Gone from the last edition are a manual and Concorde. Manuals are now in Adobe’s PDF format and additional aircraft replace Concorde.
Flying school
For novice PC pilots, Rod Machado’s ground school is a must. It is very realistic and humorous in its approach. There are virtual exams to be passed before being awarded your pilots’ license. For experienced users the first treat in store is the awesome scenery. Microsoft has taken the scenery engine from Combat Simulator and added to it. Coastlines are now more refined and more realistic. Waves wash up on the shore and rivers meander. Clouds look better and lakes and oceans move and shimmer. Transform and lighting effects allow building glass and cockpit windscreens to reflect light. On touchdown there is a puff of smoke and the aircraft’s wheels rotate. Struts bounce on rough terrain and the Seaplane splashes on touchdown in the water. Above 35,000 feet, highflying jets have contrail effects. As you fly low or descend to an airport, the Auto Generated scenery adds a raft of objects like houses, trees and bridges to give an overall impression of realism and it all works well and efficiently.
The biggest advance for Microsoft’s simulator is the inclusion of Air Traffic Control, which on first impression was similar to the presentation in Looking Glass’ Flight Unlimited. But to be fair Microsoft has done an excellent job on what can be a complicated feature. With this feature you are not alone in the sky anymore as you can see and hear other artificially intelligent aircraft and they can see you.
New aircraft to enjoy in this release are: the Boeing 747-400 (minus flight management computer), the Raytheon B58 Baron, the Cessna 208 Grand Caravan, the Cessna Caravan on amphibious floats and the Cessna 172 Skyhawk SP. In total, there are 16 aircraft to enjoy and 21,000 airports populate Microsoft’s virtual world. All navigation data is provided by Jeppesen, supplier of navigation data and charts to the world’s airlines.
Specs
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002
- Microsoft has done a serious amount of work on this release and laid out a platform for third party developers to enhance. A development tool called 3Gmax is included with the product and even more realistic add-ons will no doubt be appearing on many flight sim forums in the near future. While the physical sensation of flight may never be recreated on a computer, Microsoft’s Flight Simulator 2002 brings virtual flying a step closer to reality on your PC.
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- Rating 80%
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